The event last night in Vacaville with Michael Pollan went really well, I think. About 300 people showed up. I was able to ask most of my questions, many of yours, and quite a few of the audience’s. Most importantly, I didn’t trip, fall out of my chair, or spill my (ahem, bottled) water on the microphone…and I actually had a blast. I hope that came through despite my nervousness. We did record the event; I plan to figure out how to turn it into the Ethicurean’s first-ever podcast. I will also be having the interview transcribed to post here, as Pollan discussed quite a few things I haven’t heard him talk about much elsewhere, such as what he thinks about genetically modified food.

At the book-signing afterward, Ethicurean contributor Amanda Rose presented Pollan (left) with two prints of her son Frederick’s "Pollan paintings," which we have been running here. He seemed to find them pretty hysterical, and said he would be displaying them proudly in his office.

The evening was capped off with a late dinner at my friends Alexis and Eric Koefoed’s house. Alexis, aka the "chicken lady," owns Soul Food Farm in Vacaville, which supplies pastured chicken and eggs to Chez Panisse, among others. Turns out she is a pretty amazing cook herself—everything was delicious. Pollan, who had to get up early the next morning and so declined the dinner invite, missed a real feast.